Neath Port Talbot Council To Introduce New Garden Waste Collection Scheme

Following a review of Neath Port Talbot’s current garden waste collection arrangements, the Council will be introducing new reusable bags for households to present their green waste for collection. The reusable bags will be easier to fill and will reduce the amount of waste created from the use of single use plastic bags. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Findings from the Council’s review demonstrated that very little green waste is presented during the winter months and therefore whilst garden waste will continue to be collected all year, it will not be kept separate and composted in the winter period (December to February inclusive). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This will allow the efficiency of collection vehicles to be maximised and provides additional space for residual waste over the Christmas period when there is no restriction on the amount. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The garden waste collection review was carried out by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council’s Waste Management team, taking account of Welsh Government’s preferred collection arrangements as set out in its ‘Collections Blueprint’, which includes the collection of recyclable waste where practical using reusable or returnable containers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

However, whilst Welsh Government’s preference includes charging for garden waste collections, as is done in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire for example, Neath Port Talbot Council has decided collections will remain free of charge. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Each household requiring bags will initially be provided with two free reusable bags, with replacement and further bags being subject to a charge to cover costs, similar to the system which has been successfully operating in Swansea. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In 2015/16, over £330,000 was spent in Neath Port Talbot on single use plastic sacks for the collection of recyclable materials, including green waste. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

With the final roll out of the Council’s new ‘Recycle+’ kerbside recycling collection scheme expected shortly, and a move to reusable bags for green waste collections, this money can be saved and reinvested into expended services in line with the increasing statutory targets. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Given the move to reusable bags in in line with national guidelines, the Council has been successful in obtaining a grant under Welsh Government’s Collaborative Change Programme to purchase them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council Leader Ali Thomas OBE said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Everyone in Neath Port Talbot is well aware of the cost challenges imposed on Local Authorities and we try our very best year on year to protect our residents from the financial pressures that are being felt nationally. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This change to reusable bags, which residents should find easier to fill, will avoid the regular waste of single use plastic bags and help us meet the challenges ahead. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Whilst we have made very good progress it will be a task for the new administration later in the year to review the Council’s waste strategy and any further actions that are needed to be taken to reach the longer term 70% recycling target in 2025.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council aims to roll out the new garden waste collection arrangements from the start of June 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​